CTAA director Neil Chambers said empty container management
situation in Sydney had been getting worse for several months.

“For many container transport operators it has reached the
stage where they cannot fully absorb the additional costs,” Mr Chambers said.

“A conservative estimate is that the additional costs being
borne by transport operators in managing empty containers in Sydney are between
$90 to $200 per container, depending on the level of delay and additional
handling necessary.”

Mr Chambers said gate capacity and available truck arrival
slots were at a premium at some key Sydney ECPs given the volumes being
directed to those facilities by shipping lines.

This was amplified, he said, when the ECPs did not operate
regularly after hours or on weekends.

Mr Chambers said a significant contributor to the higher
costs was the number and frequency of empty container ‘re-directions’ which were
ordered at the discretion of the shipping lines.

He said Port Botany was Australia’s empty container “re-direction
capital”, with more than 30 re-direction notices current every day, more than
double the number in Melbourne.

“Empty containers destined for one ECP, or for direct wharf
de-hire, are suddenly re-directed to another location, causing significant
planning difficulties for transport operators who must adjust their fleet and
job allocations last minute,” Mr Chambers said.

“These re-directions are occurring to solely suit the
shipping lines who want the empty containers sent to a specific location for
their next use, including to meet regional rail export empty demands or for
international empty repatriation, rather than the shipping line being
responsible for the costs of repositioning the empty at a later date.”

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Mr Chambers said the lack of sufficient operational notice
of re-directions meant trucks with a valid ECP arrival notification were being
turned away because a re-direction had been put in place at the last minute.

Mr Chambers said importers, forwarders and their transport
providers should be more proactive in convincing shipping lines that they would
direct the empty de-hires there, instead of suffering delays in trying to
de-hire to nominated facilities that are congested or have limited opening
hours.

CTAA Alliance companies are discussing the current delays
and inefficiencies with the ECPs in Sydney, with shipping lines, NSW Ports,
Transport for NSW and the NSW Government.

Shipping Australia chief executive Rod Nairn said there had been some recognised congestion delays around ECP access and capacity around Sydney and shipping lines over the past six months.

He said ECPs, stevedores and transport operator were working together in the interests of promoting cost-efficient and sustainable international trade.

“The situation had improved with respect to ECP slots and access management since a meeting between all parties last year,” Mr Nairn said.

“However further delays and complications have since been introduced due to BMSB compliance measures.”

Mr Nairn said efficient and cost-effective movement of freight was in everyone’s best interests so SAL would discuss with members what they considered to be “the common pinch points” and try to figure out what could be done to improve the situation.

“But there are many other players in the logistics chain,” he said.

“Ultimately, shipping lines are required to ensure their empties are appropriately positioned to be available to exporters or transferred overseas, noting that most of them are exported empty.”